(CNN) - The McCain campaign announced Sarah Palin is set to make a stop in North Carolina Tuesday night, two days after the Republican VP candidate stumped in Nebraska - two reliably red states that haven't voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in at least three decades.

Palin's most recent travel schedule is the latest indication Barack Obama and the nation's ailing economy have put John McCain on the defensive, even in states where the prospect of a Democratic win was unthinkable only four years ago.

Palin's visit to North Carolina comes as most recent polls of the state show Obama and McCain essentially in a dead heat there. A CNN/Time Magazine/Opinion Research Corporation poll of North Carolina last month showed the candidates dead even, while some recent polls have even suggested a slight Democratic lead. CNN/Time Magazine/Opinion Research Corporation will release a new North Carolina poll Tuesday morning.

Then there’s the unknown variable of an anticipated rise in turnout in the African-American community. In 2006 that voting bloc made up 26 percent of North Carolina's electorate, with 85 percent voting for Sen. John Kerry. Obama is expected to win an even higher percentage of the black vote this cycle, with a higher expected turnout as well.

"The North Carolina of today is far more diverse than the North Carolina of twenty or even ten years ago," CNN Senior Political Researcher Alan Silverleib said. "The state’s changing economy has attracted thousands of new voters willing to pull the lever for a Democratic nominee. Second, the state’s sizable African-American voting bloc is extremely energized by Obama’s candidacy. Third, the economic downturn has made Tar Heel voters — just like voters in the rest of the country — much more receptive to the Democratic message of change."

Palin's appearance in the state comes more than five months after McCain held his last public event there, delivering a speech in early May at Wake Forest on his vision for judicial appointments. The event came the same day as Indiana and North Carolina's Democratic primaries and was largely overshadowed by the still-ongoing battle between Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton.

"This is a state that Barack Obama has put millions of dollars into," he said. "This is an opportunity to speak to our supporters there and makes sure they turn out."

Porritt also declined to say whether McCain has any plans to visit North Carolina before Election Day.

The North Carolina visit comes after Palin traveled to Nebraska's Second Congressional District Sunday, prompting pundits to speculate the McCain campaign is worried the Obama could peel off an electoral vote there. Nebraska, like Maine, awards its electoral votes by the winner of each congressional district, and the second district - which includes Omaha and its surrounding areas - is the most Democratic.

But Palin told Nebraska voters Sunday she was not visiting the state because the campaign was worried about a possible loss there.

“The pundits today on TV—one of them was saying, check out the vice president’s schedule, check out where she’s going—she’s going to Nebraska,” she said. “But the pundit was saying the only reason she’d be going there is ‘cause they’re scared, so they got to go there and shore up votes. And I wanted to reach into that TV and say no, I’m going to Nebraska because I want to go to Nebraska."

soundoff(919 Responses)

Ann

Sarah PaLying is winking and sinking..

October 6, 2008 10:05 pm at 10:05 pm |

Lachelle

To Concerned Canadian: Let me start off by saying your racist comment is neither a surprise nor any type of offense to my race or myself.
You see, African Americans or blacks as you have stated have voted for white candidates for years. Now, the other 1/2 of black America that you are referring to has never taken an initiative to vote because they felt there was not a candidate that defined true leadership, embarked a true plan for the country, or frankly never really inspired Americans to engage themselves into politics.
Now, let me make it clear to you that millions of blacks are not voting for Obama because of his race, we are voting for him because we realize that politicians such as Bush, McCain, and Palin are not concerned about poor white Americans or black Americans, their concern is for greed, money, and power.
So, if you want to insult black people for supporting Obama please make sure you ridicule the millions of non-blacks who voted for Bush. I think we can pat ourselves on the back for not making such demoralizing choice.

October 6, 2008 10:05 pm at 10:05 pm |

Gail in SC

Lets see if she gets 28,000 like Obama did Sunday in Asheville, NC.

October 6, 2008 10:05 pm at 10:05 pm |

Palinocchio & McMoreoftheSame

Palin's popularity is fading quickly, McShame should had picked Britney Spears or Paris Hilton instead. At least Britney and Paris know how to sing good, compared to Palin's unintelligence mumblings.

October 6, 2008 10:05 pm at 10:05 pm |

marianna

Nothing will help any more – there is going to be a bright light coming from Africa – the obvious sign that Obama is God-sent;-)

October 6, 2008 10:05 pm at 10:05 pm |

NEVER OBAMA

MAC AND THE BABE 2008

October 6, 2008 10:05 pm at 10:05 pm |

Harriet Mooney

I think this is going way to far to slander each other because of fear of votes. If they keep this type of communication going people won't want to vote at all. First Sarah Palin needs to have her stories complete not bits and pieces because people come to hear her speak. This doesn't mean they actually believe her. She is making a joke of our voting process and they are feeding her this information to give her something to talk about because she doesn't know anything else. As for John Mc Cain, he really needs to speak of our serious issues for the United States and what he is going to do to correct them. Brack Obama needs to get strong and address these issues one by one and forget about them. Get to issues and how he plans to take our country to prosperity again. Lets stop the slamming and get to our problems at hand. Or I may not even vote myself. I'm sick and tired of hearing all this crude instead of what's real. We all have enough problems without wondering if all this slamming is true or not. Thank You,

Harriet Mooney
God Bles the USA

October 6, 2008 10:06 pm at 10:06 pm |

Helena B.

Sarah Palin always talks about her love for this country. So why is her husband a member of a group that wants Alaska to secede from the United States. She also talks about Obama and Rev. Wright, but her pastor performs real witch hunts and tracks down evil spirits. She is so stupid. Doesn't she know that all the negative things that she says just makes people look at her background even closer. Sarah Palin: what a moron!

October 6, 2008 10:07 pm at 10:07 pm |

michael

Strange – a few weeks ago when Obama was down 5 points and told his supporters to "get in their face" he wasn't desparate but courageous. The media was encouraging him to the same tactics they are accusing McCain of now.
Let these "polls" fool you as much as you like – watch how they switch a few days before the election – The media is playing up Obama's lead as much as they are playing down the economy.
Also – the Obama/Ayers connection is not a lie and they haven't even touched on Ayers' father who is was democratic kingpin in Chicago – an expert that helped Kennedy steal an election with Richard Daley.

October 6, 2008 10:07 pm at 10:07 pm |

M. ELIAS

HOW SAD, SARAH PALIN, THAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE
TASK OF ATTACK DOG. HOW VERY UNATTRACTIVE. WHEN
YOU LOSE THIS ELECTION AND HAVE TO RETURN TO
ALASKA, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
USED, AND WORST OF ALL, YOU AGREED TO THAT ROLE.
HOW SAD......M.ELIAS

October 6, 2008 10:07 pm at 10:07 pm |

jules

The worst part of the media being so biased toward Obama and supporting him in every way is that it has affected so many young voters. These voters believe what CNN says. They believe what Obama is telling them. How unfortunate. If elected,Obama will never complete most of what he is promising and this will make all these young become dissillusioned with politics and never take iour country seriously again. The past does repeat itself and is doing so now.

October 6, 2008 10:07 pm at 10:07 pm |

nelson mcnarland

mccain and palin are alike slimey and greasy

October 6, 2008 10:08 pm at 10:08 pm |

Nola

This Country needs to Change – we are headed down the wrong path
Vote for Obama and Biden – so we can get back on course

October 6, 2008 10:08 pm at 10:08 pm |

Rodger

Better not send her to one of the many college towns...she'll get sent bak to Alaska!

October 6, 2008 10:08 pm at 10:08 pm |

Lost in Texas

back a few months ago I recall Sen McCain, when a Cinncinnati local far right DJ came out to give some "red meat" to the GOP hopefuls, the Sen denouced that type of thing and said it would NO place in his campaign. Well what the heck happened since then? All I hear from the McCain campaign is negative attacks and for a group that Gov Palin said Thursday was going to look forward and not past seemed to be stuck in the past and not dealing at all with the present. I guess the likes of Karl Rove would be proud but as a Democrat who once supported Gov McCain in his quest as being a maverick in the GOP, I have to admit I am ashamed of his current behavior.

October 6, 2008 10:10 pm at 10:10 pm |

C.Ellis

I afraid the Sarah is not a lady but a true pitbull. She has a rude and unprofessional attitude. I think she was unlady like in the debate when she asked Senator Biden to call him by his first name and then called him a regular Joe 6-pack. Who doesn't have the education of Mr. Obama nor Mr Biden. She is uneducated, how did she ever get to be governor? Did she use her beauty to win the race? I think so!!!
What religion is she? I think she is really a democrat with her liberal view points!!! I also believe that she is running against MCCLAIN. She has different opinions than her running mate......... .

October 6, 2008 10:10 pm at 10:10 pm |

James

Hey! check out the news on SARAH PALINS affair with her husband business partner & shes talking about honesty. Her whole marriage is dishonest!

OBAMA/BIDEN 08

October 6, 2008 10:11 pm at 10:11 pm |

redneck in nyc

anonymous, Obama isnt raising taxes, he's letting the current un-american Bush tax cut for the wealthiest 5% EXPIRE. The wealthiest Americans are supposed to help pay for war, NOT PROFIT FROM IT. As Biden said in the debate, taxes for ANY business will not be any higher than they were under your precious Reagan. Everyone else (you and I and everyone commenting on this page) will get a TAX CUT from Obama. How many times do they have to say it? Your president and party have made the problem WORSE thru DEREGULATION (you know, the question Sarah REFUSED to answer) yet somehow you're blaming Obama in the FUTURE for what has ALREADY HAPPENED. Incredible. OBAMA/BIDEN '08

October 6, 2008 10:11 pm at 10:11 pm |

Erick in Alabama

Mccain needs to stop it! Obama is not a terroist, and will make a great president. he has good judgement and thinks before he acts. sarah needs to shut the heck up and go home. bush does have ties to bin laden and saddam hussien as he bush sr. actually rescued bin laden in the 1990s. palin wants to cede the union, and then there's troopergate, and keating 5. keating 5 is part of the mess now. talk about desperation. this idiot palin has no room to talk. they are encouragin threats against obama's life. that's no joke and she needs to not talk of terroists and such. i support obama as he is a change, from old GOP style to a govt that cares about the people and doesn't enter into useless wars. Vote Obama or regret not doing so.

OBAMA 08

October 6, 2008 10:11 pm at 10:11 pm |

DC-African in Colorado Springs, Colorado

You can not be both desperate and loser.

October 6, 2008 10:12 pm at 10:12 pm |

Niraj

All this slandering and negative tactic is bound to backfire on these clowns. I am tired of hearing their bad mouthing... it's time you talk about issues and how you would solve them. Do you have a better plan? or for that matter any plan at all??

October 6, 2008 10:12 pm at 10:12 pm |

cecil

The GOP presidential candidate told a campaign rally: "Sen. Obama has accused me of opposing regulation to avert this crisis. I guess he believes if a lie is big enough and repeated often enough it will be believed." Sounds Like He's Refering To Gov. Palin Terrorist Statement!

Trent, LOL on that one. Now you know the cheating on the wife thing is a personal family matter and shouldn't be discussed publicly. Don't forget that double standard that another family is held to–all their personal stuff is fair game. That's what I absolutely do not care for, the Republican 'machine' double standard.

Anyway...Keating Five, Alaskan Independence Party and what exactly happened to the Vietnam POW's who weren't so lucky as to be able to come home?

October 6, 2008 10:12 pm at 10:12 pm |

lil

Is she running for president or vice president?

October 6, 2008 10:13 pm at 10:13 pm |

lato

To all you racist bigots out there. Have you stopped to consider that no matter who wins the presidency, there will be a black in the white house? I hope you can handle that.